Fluoroalkyl silicone composition

ABSTRACT

Described is a free-radically curable composition comprising a fluoroalkyl silicone having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, and a free radical initiator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a curable fluoroalkyl silicone composition and to articles having a protective coating thereof.

BACKGROUND

Certain commonly used materials, such as optical displays, textiles, metals, stone, wood, leather, etc, are susceptible to scratches, abrasion, and soiling during routine use. In some instances, protective films or coatings may be applied to the surfaces of these materials in order to provide protection and enhance durability, performance and appearance.

UV-curable systems based on the polymerization of an acrylic resin have been used as protective coating compositions for a variety of surfaces. In some instances, it may be desirable to modify or enhance the performance of these coatings by introducing particular structures, such as fluorinated groups, into the polymeric network. Fluorinated groups can be incorporated into these compositions through the copolymerization of the acrylic resin with a low amount (<1%, w/w) of a fluorinated monomer, such as a fluorinated acrylate compound.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,861 (Kang et al. '861); U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,798 B1 (Kang et al. '798); U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,833 B1 (Kang et al. '833); U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,799 (Craig et al.) and Published PCT Application No. WO 99/57185 (Huang et al.) describes ceramer compositions containing blends of colloidal inorganic oxide particles, a curable binder precursor and certain fluorochemical compounds. These compositions are described as providing stain and abrasion resistant hardcoats in a single layer coating.

U.S. Pub. Appln. No. 2006/0014915 describes a composition comprising a non-fluorinated polyorganosiloxane fluid having an average of at least two unsaturated organic groups per molecule and a non-fluorinated crosslinking agent having an average of at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule; a hydrosilylation catalyst; and a fluoroorganosilicone.

Although various protective coatings have been developed using fluorinated polymers, a need remains for improved coating compositions with better performance and longevity than existing systems.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a free-radically curable composition comprising: a fluoroalkyl silicone having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, a polyethylenically unsaturated component having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups. The composition may further comprise a free radical initiator. The polyethylenically unsaturated component may comprise an organic compound having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups, or may comprise a surface-functionalized inorganic particle having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups. The fluoroalkyl silicone may have terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, pendent (i.e. in-chain ethylenically unsaturated groups), or a combination thereof. Optionally, the curable composition may further comprise a mono (meth)acryloyl compound having a functional group.

In another embodiment the invention provides a coated article comprising the cured coating of the invention. The curable composition may be used to prepare hard surface coatings on a variety of substrates, providing a durable, low surface energy, solvent resistant, repellent surface.

Definitions

As used herein the term “(meth)acryloyl” includes both acryloyl and methacryloyl groups/compounds. In at least some embodiments, acrylate groups are preferred. As used herein, (meth)acryloyl groups includes those class of compounds such as (meth)acrylate esters, (meth)acrylamides, and N-alkyl (meth)acrylamides.

By “polyethylenically unsaturated” it is meant a compound or component having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups, such as a plurality of vinyl groups and (meth)acryloyl groups.

By “poly(meth)acryloyl” it is meant a compound or component having a plurality of (meth)acryloyl groups, such as a plurality of acrylate groups

By “hardcoat” or “topcoat” is meant a free-radically cured composition that optionally comprises inorganic additives.

By “hydrocarbyl”, is meant containing just hydrogen and carbon;

By “low surface energy” is meant that the surface layer of the articles described herein preferably exhibits a static or dynamic contact angle with water of at least 70°. More preferably the contact angle with water is at least 80° and even more preferably at least 90° (e.g. at least 95°, at least 100°. Low surface energy is indicative of anti-soiling properties as well as the surface being easy to clean. As yet another indication of low surface energy, ink from a commercially available marker preferably beads up. Further, the surface layer and articles described herein exhibit “ink repellency”, meaning that the ink can easily be removed by wiping with a commercially available tissue.

The recitation herein of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4 and 5). As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” also include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing “a compound” includes a mixture of two or more compounds. In addition, the term “or” is generally used in the sense of “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, measurement of properties such as surface energy, contact angles, and so forth used in the instant specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings of the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors and uncertainties necessarily resulting from the standard deviations found in their respective testing measurements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a free-radically curable composition comprising: a fluoroalkyl silicone having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, and a polyethylenically unsaturated component having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, and a free radical initiator.

The first component of the curable composition may be an organic polyethylenically unsaturated compound having two or more ethylenically unsaturated, free-radically polymerizable groups. The polyethylenically unsaturated compound is of the formula R⁴(Z′)_(p), wherein R⁴ is an organic moiety of valency p, p is at least 2, and Z′ is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, reactive with said ethylenically unsaturated group of said fluoroalkyl silicone. Preferably, the R⁴ moiety is a non-urethane moiety. More preferably, the R⁴ moiety is a hydrocarbyl group (containing just carbon and hydrogen), and most preferably, the R⁴ moiety is a linear, branched, cyclic or acyclic aliphatic group. The ethylenically unsaturated group Z′ may include alkenyl groups, such as vinyl, allyl, and butentyl; alkynyl groups such as ethynyl, propynyl and butynyl, vinyloxyalkylene (e.g. CH₂═CHO—C_(m)H_(2m)), allyloxyalkylene (e.g. CH₂═CHCH₂O—C_(m)H_(2m)), where m is 1 to 12, and (meth)acryloyl groups. Preferably the Z′ group is a (meth)acryloyl group.

A wide variety of poly(meth)acryloyl compounds can be used in the coating compositions, such as, for example, di(meth)acryloyl containing compounds such as 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol monoacrylate monomethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, alkoxylated aliphatic diacrylate, alkoxylated cyclohexane dimethanol diacrylate, alkoxylated hexanediol diacrylate, alkoxylated neopentyl glycol diacrylate, caprolactone modified neopentylglycol hydroxypivalate diacrylate, caprolactone modified neopentylglycol hydroxypivalate diacrylate, cyclohexanedimethanol diacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, ethoxylated (10) bisphenol A diacrylate, ethoxylated (3) bisphenol A diacrylate, ethoxylated (30) bisphenol A diacrylate, ethoxylated (4) bisphenol A diacrylate, hydroxypivalaldehyde modified trimethylolpropane diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol (200) diacrylate, polyethylene glycol (400) diacrylate, polyethylene glycol (600) diacrylate, propoxylated neopentyl glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, tricyclodecanedimethanol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate; tri(meth)acryl containing compounds such as glycerol triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated triacrylates (e.g., ethoxylated (3) trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated (6) trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated (9) trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated (20) trimethylolpropane triacrylate), pentaerythritol triacrylate, propoxylated triacrylates (e.g., propoxylated (3) glyceryl triacrylate, propoxylated (5.5) glyceryl triacrylate, propoxylated (3) trimethylolpropane triacrylate, propoxylated (6) trimethylolpropane triacrylate), trimethylolpropane triacrylate, higher functionality (meth)acryl containing compounds such as ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, ethoxylated (4) pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, caprolactone modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate; oligomeric (meth)acryloyl compounds such as, for example, polyester acrylates, epoxy acrylates; polyacrylamide analogues of the foregoing; and combinations thereof.

Such compounds are widely available from vendors such as, for example, Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa.; UCB Chemicals Corporation, Smyrna, Ga.; and Aldrich Chemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis. Additional useful (meth)acryloyl materials include hydantoin moiety-containing poly(meth)acrylates, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,072 (Wendling et al.).

Preferred organic polyethylenically unsaturated compounds are those (meth)acrylated polyols, included those commercially available (meth)acryloyl compounds include those available from Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa. such as tripropyleneglycol diacrylate available under the trade designation “SR306”, trimethylolpropane triacrylate available under the trade designation “SR351”, pentaerythritol triacrylate available under the trade designation “SR444”, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate available under the trade designation “SR399LV”, ethoxylated (3) trimethylolpropane triacrylate available under the trade designation “SR454”, and ethoxylated (4) pentaerythritol triacrylate, available under the trade designation “SR494”.

Although as little as 5 parts by weight of the organic polyethylenically unsaturated component (relative to 100 parts by weight of the organic polyethylenically unsaturated component and fluoroalkyl silicone) may result in suitable durability for some applications, it is typically preferred to maximize the concentration, particularly since these compounds are generally less expensive than fluorinated compounds. Accordingly, the coating compositions described herein typically comprise at greater than 50 parts by weight organic polyethylenically unsaturated component. In some implementations the total amount of organic polyethylenically unsaturated component may comprise greater than 60 parts by weight, at least 70 parts by weight, at least 80 parts by weight, at least 90 parts by weight and even about 99.5 parts by weight of the coating composition.

Alternatively, the polyethylenically unsaturated component may comprise surface functionalized inorganic particles, preferably nanoparticles (having an average particle size of less than 100 nanometers) having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups. These particles and nanoparticles are prepared from colloidal materials from the group of silica, zinc oxide, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, chromia, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, other colloidal metal oxides, and mixtures thereof, functionalized such that (a) the particles disperse in the curable composition and (b) the ethylenically unsaturated groups attached to the particle are capable of polymerization; these particles can comprise essentially a single oxide such as silica or can comprise a core of an oxide of one type (or a core of a material) on which is deposited the oxide of another type. The particles have an average particle diameter of 5 to about 1000 nm, preferably less than 100 nanometers, more preferably 10 to 50 nm. Average particle size can be measured using transmission electron microscopy to count the number of particles of a given diameter. Additional examples of suitable colloidal silicas are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,394, incorporated herein by reference.

Such particles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,037, and 6,462,100 (Thunhorst et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,058 (Arney et al.) and are incorporated herein by reference. Other useful surface modified particles are described in published application U.S. 20020128336 (Baran et al.) incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably the particles are (meth)acryloyl functionalized inorganic particles, i.e. functionalized with a plurality of (meth)acryloyl groups. Typically, the silica particles are functionalized by adding a silylacrylate to aqueous colloidal silica. Examples of (meth)acryloyl functionalized colloidal silica are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,491,508 and 4,455,205 to Olsen et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,478,876 and 4,486,504 to Chung; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,225 to Katsamberis, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The polyethylenically unsaturated inorganic particles may substitute for all or a part of the organic polyethylenically unsaturated component, i.e. the curable composition may comprise a fluoroalkyl silicone having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, an polyethylenically unsaturated functionalized particle component, and a free radical initiator. Generally, the total amount of ethylenically unsaturated component, whether an organic compound, or a surface functionalized inorganic particle component, or a combination thereof, is greater than 50 parts by weight, i.e. 51 to 99.5 parts by weight.

The coating composition described herein also comprises at least one fluoroalkyl silicone compound having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups, such as (meth)acryloyl or vinyl groups. The total amount of fluoroalkyl silicone compound in the coating composition that is cured to form the coating is typically at least 0.5 parts by weight. In some embodiments, the coating composition may contain as much as 49 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of polyethylenically unsaturated component plus fluoroalkyl silicone compound. However, it is generally more cost effective to employ a minimal concentration of the fluoroalkyl silicone compound that provide the desired low surface energy. Accordingly, the total amount of fluoroalkyl silicone compound(s) provided in the coating composition typically does not exceed 20 parts by weight.

The fluoroalkyl silicone compound is any compound represented by the following formula:

wherein

R¹ is a monovalent, hydrocarbyl organic group, including aliphatic and aromatic groups;

R² is R¹ or an ethylenically unsaturated group Z;

R^(f) is a fluoroalkyl group;

a is 0 to 2000

b is 1 to 2000; and

a+b is at least 10, preferably at least 50,

wherein at least two of said R² groups are an ethylenically unsaturated group Z. With respect to Formula I, the fluoroalkyl silicone may comprise compounds having at least two terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups, represented by the formula:

wherein

R¹ is a monovalent, hydrocarbyl organic group, including aliphatic and aromatic groups;

Z is an ethylenically unsaturated group;

R_(f) is a fluoroalkyl group;

a is 0 to 2000

b is 1 to 2000; and

a+b is at least 10, preferably at least 50.

The fluoroalkyl silicone may comprise compounds having at least two pendent ethylenically unsaturated groups, represented by the formula:

wherein Z is an ethylenically unsaturated group,

R¹ is a monovalent, hydrocarbyl organic group, including aliphatic and aromatic groups;

R_(f) is a fluoroalkyl group;

a is 0 to 2000

b is 1 to 2000;

c is 2 to 2000; and

a+b+c is at least 10, preferably at least 50.

With respect to Formulas I, II and III, it will be understood the illustrated silicones may be random or block copolymers. The number of silicone units, represented by integers a, b and c is generally at least ten, at preferably at least 50. Any of the fluoroalkyl silicones may further comprise optional R¹ ₃SiO_(1/2) units, SiO_(4/2) units, R¹SiO_(3/2) units and R¹ ₂SiO_(2/2) units or a combination thereof.

The fluoroalkyl group, R_(f), of the fluoroalkyl silicone compounds may be of the formulas C_(n)F_(2n+1)(CH₂O)_(d)C_(m)H_(2m)—or C_(n)F_(2n+1)CHXCF₂(C_(m)H_(2m)O)_(d)C_(p)H_(2p)— or C_(n)F_(2n+1)OCHXCF₂(C_(m)H_(2m)O)_(d)C_(p)H_(2p)— where X is H or F, n is an integer of 1 to 12, m is an integer of 1 to 12, d is 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 2 to 12. Preferably, n is an integer of 3 to 6. The size of the fluoroalkyl group, and the number of fluoroalkyl groups, is chosen such that the cured coating has at least 10 wt. %, preferably at least 20 wt. %, fluorine.

Representative examples of fluoroalkyl groups are CF₃CH₂CH₂—, CF₃CF₂CF₂CF₂CH₂CH₂—, (CF₃)₂NCF₂CF₂CH₂CH₂—, CF₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂—, CF₃CF₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂—, CF₃CFHCF₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂—, CF₃CFHCF₂OCH₂CH₂—, and CF₃CF₂CF₂CF₂CH₂CF₂CH₂CH₂—.

It has been reported that certain perfluorooctyl-containing compounds (C₈F₁₇—) may tend to bio-accumulate in living organisms; this tendency has been cited as a potential concern regarding some fluorochemical compositions. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,884 (Baker et al.). As a result, there is a desire for fluorine-containing compositions effective in providing desired functional properties, e.g., water- and oil-repellency, surfactant properties, etc. while eliminating more effectively from biological systems.

The present compositions provide additional advantages. First, the coating compositions containing the shorter (i.e. C₃ to C₆) fluoroalkyl groups may be produced at a lower cost per weight because of higher yields while maintaining their potency as effective low surface energy coatings at the same weight basis. For example, the heptafluorobutyryl fluoride precursor may be prepared in yields of 60% as compared to perfluoro-octanoyl fluoride precursor (31%) in an electrochemical fluorination process (Preparation, Properties, and Industrial Applications of Organofluorine Compounds, edited by R. E. Banks, Ellis Horwood Ltd (1982), p 26). Furthermore, the short chain carboxylic acids (the presumed intermediate degradation products) are less toxic and less bioaccumulative than the longer chain homologues.

The monovalent organic groups represented by R¹ may have 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alternatively 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of monovalent organic groups include, but are not limited to, monovalent hydrocarbon groups. Monovalent hydrocarbon groups include, but are not limited to, alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, pentyl, octyl, undecyl, and octadecyl; cycloalkyl such as cyclohexyl, and aromatic groups (aryl) such as phenyl, tolyl, and napthyl.

The ethylenically unsaturated group Z may include alkenyl groups, such as vinyl, allyl, and butentyl; alkynyl groups such as ethynyl, propynyl and butynyl, vinyloxyalkylene (e.g. CH₂═CHO—C_(m)H_(2m)—), allyloxyalkylene (e.g. CH₂═CHCH₂O—C_(m)H_(2m)—), and (meth)acryloyl groups, where m is an integer of 1 to 12. Preferably the Z group or the fluoroalkyl silicone is a vinyl group.

The fluoroalkyl silicone is exemplified by dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane); dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-6,6,6,5,5,4,4,3,3-nonafluorohexylsiloxane); dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-vinylsiloxane/methyl-6,6,6,5,5,4,4,3,3-nonafluorohexylsiloxane); dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane); dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(methyl-6,6,6,5,5,4,4,3,3-nonafluorohexylsiloxane); dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-vinylsiloxane/methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane); trimethylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-vinylsiloxane/methyl-6,6,6,5,5,4,4,3,3-nonafluorohexylsiloxane); trimethylsiloxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane/methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane/methylvinylsiloxane); trimethylsiloxy-terminated poly(methyl-vinylsiloxane/methyl-6,6,6,5,5,4,4,3,3-nonafluorohexylsiloxane); trimethylsiloxy-terminated poly(methylvinylsiloxane/methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane); or combinations thereof.

The fluoroalkyl silicones are known to the art and may be prepared by several routes. By one method, a fluoroalkyl vinyl compound is hydrosilylated with a dichloroalkyl silane, treated with water to form the cyclic trimer (or tetramer), and then polymerized with base (optionally with the cyclic trimer of a dialkyl siloxane) to form the fluoroalkyl silicone, as shown below: R_(f)CH═CH₂→R_(f)CH₂CH₂SiMeCl₂→cyclic trimer or tetramer of R_(f)CH₂CH₂SiMeO_(2/2)→—(SiMe(C₂H₄R_(f))—O)_(n)—, or copolymer with cyclic trimer or tetramer of Me₂SiO_(2/2) →—(SiMe(C₂H₄R_(f))—O)_(n)—(SiMe₂—O)_(m)—.

Another major route is the hydrolysis from R_(f)CH₂CH₂SiMe(OMe)₂ with or without other RSiMe(OMe)₂, followed by dehydration to the polymer. Other methods for preparing fluoroalkyl silicones are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,544 (Holbrook et al.), P. Tarrant et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 79, pp. 6536-6540, 1957; A. M. Geyer et al., J. Chem. Soc., pp. 4472-9, 1957; Y. K. Kim et al., J. Org. Chem., vol. 38, pp 1615-6, 1973; and E. Beyou et al., Tet. Letters, vol. 36(11), pp. 1843-4, 1995.

Further, the fluoroalkyl silicone may be produced by the silica hydrosol capping process of Daudt et al. with ethylenically unsaturated group containing endblocking reagents. The method of Daudt et al., is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,676,182. Briefly stated, the method of Daudt et al. involves reacting a silica hydrosol under acidic conditions with a hydrolyzable triorganosilane such as trimethylchlorosilane, a siloxane such as hexamethyldisiloxane, or mixtures thereof, and recovering a copolymer having units derived therefrom. The resulting copolymers generally contain from 2 to 5 percent by weight of hydroxyl groups.

Commercially available silicones having a plurality of polyethylenically unsaturated groups include a vinyl-terminated fluorosilicone that is commercially available under the trade designations “SYL-OFF Q2-7785” from Dow Corning Corp.

The fluoroalkyl silicone, which typically contains less than 2 percent by weight of silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups, may be prepared by reacting the product of Daudt et al. with an unsaturated organic group-containing endblocking agent and an endblocking agent free of aliphatic unsaturation, in an amount sufficient to provide from 3 to 30 mole percent of unsaturated organic groups in the final product. Examples of endblocking agents include, but are not limited to, silazanes, siloxanes, and silanes. Suitable endblocking agents are known in the art and exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,584,355; 4,591,622; and 4,585,836, incorporated herein by reference. A single endblocking agent or a mixture of such agents may be used to prepare the resin.

The fluoroalkyl silicone can be a single fluid or a combination comprising two or more fluoroalkyl silicone fluids that differ in at least one of the following properties: structure, viscosity, average molecular weight, siloxane units, and sequence. The curable composition may optionally further comprise a mono (meth)acryloyl compound having a functional group. Such functional compounds have the general formula:

wherein R⁶ is hydrogen, a C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, or a phenyl group, preferably hydrogen or a methyl group; R⁵ is a divalent linking group that joins an (meth)acryloyl group to functional group Y and preferably contains up to 34, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 10, carbon and, optionally, oxygen and nitrogen atoms. R⁵ is preferably selected from —O—R⁷— and —NH—R⁷—, in which R⁷ is an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a 5- or 6-membered cycloalkylene group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkylene-oxyalkylene in which each alkylene includes 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is a divalent aromatic group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms; and Y is a functional group for improving the bonding or adhesion of the curable composition to a substrate. Preferably Y selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, amino (including secondary and tertiary amino), carboxyl, isocyanato, aziridinyl, epoxy, acyl halide, azlactone, oxazolinyl, acetoacetyl, hydrolysable silane (such as trialkoxy silanes) and cyclic anhydride groups. Such compounds are generally used in amounts of 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of a mono (meth)acryloyl compound, polyethylenically unsaturated component and fluoroalkyl silicone component.

To facilitate curing, polymerizable compositions according to the present invention further comprise at least one free-radical thermal initiator and/or photoinitiator. Typically, if such an initiator and/or photoinitiator are present, it comprises less than about 5 parts by weight, more typically less than about 2 parts by weight of the curable composition, based 100 parts by weight of the polyethylenically unsaturated component and the fluoroalkyl silicone. Free-radical curing techniques are well known in the art and include, for example, thermal curing methods as well as radiation curing methods such as electron beam or ultraviolet radiation. Further details concerning free radical thermal and photopolymerization techniques may be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,233 (Grant et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,184 (Klun et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,949 (Wright et al.). Useful free-radical thermal initiators include, for example, azo, peroxide, persulfate, and redox initiators, and combinations thereof.

Useful free-radical photoinitiators include, for example, those known as useful in the UV cure of acrylate polymers. Such initiators include benzophenone and its derivatives; benzoin, α-methylbenzoin, α-phenylbenzoin, α-allylbenzoin, α-benzylbenzoin; benzoin ethers such as benzil dimethyl ketal (commercially available under the trade designation “IRGACURE 651” from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation of Tarrytown, N.Y.), benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin n-butyl ether; acetophenone and its derivatives such as 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone (commercially available under the trade designation “DAROCUR 1173” from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation) and 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (commercially available under the trade designation “IRGACURE 184”, also from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation); 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propanone commercially available under the trade designation “IRGACURE 907”, also from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation); 2-benzyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone commercially available under the trade designation “IRGACURE 369” from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation); aromatic ketones such as benzophenone and its derivatives and anthraquinone and its derivatives; onium salts such as diazonium salts, iodonium salts, sulfonium salts; titanium complexes such as, for example, that which is commercially available under the trade designation “CGI 784 DC”, also from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation); halomethylnitrobenzenes; and mono- and bis-acylphosphines such as those available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation under the trade designations “IRGACURE 1700”, “IRGACURE 1800”, “IRGACURE 1850”, “IRGACURE 819” “IRGACURE 2005”, “IRGACURE 2010”, “IRGACURE 2020” and “DAROCUR 4265”. Combinations of two or more photoinitiators may be used. Further, sensitizers such as 2-isopropyl thioxanthone, commercially available from First Chemical Corporation, Pascagoula, Miss., may be used in conjunction with photoinitiator(s) such as “IRGACURE 369”.

If desired, the curable composition may further comprise an organic solvent. The organic solvent used in the free radical crosslinking reaction can be any organic liquid that is inert to the reactants and product, and that will not otherwise adversely affect the reaction. Suitable solvents include alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, esters, such as ethyl acetate, aromatic solvents such as toluene and naphthalene, aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as heptane, chlorinated solvents, ethers, and ketones, such as acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone. Other solvent systems may also be used. The amount of solvent can generally be about 20 to 90 percent by weight of the total weight of reactants and solvent. It should be noted that in addition to solution polymerization, the crosslinking can be effected by other well-known techniques such as suspension, emulsion, and bulk polymerization techniques.

A variety of non-functional inorganic oxide particles can be used in the coating, in addition to the surface modified, ethylenically unsaturated inorganic particles. The particles are typically substantially spherical in shape and relatively uniform in size. The particles can have a substantially monodisperse size distribution or a polymodal distribution obtained by blending two or more substantially monodisperse distributions.

The inorganic oxide particles are typically non-aggregated (substantially discrete), as aggregation can result in precipitation of the inorganic oxide particles or gelation of the composition.

The inorganic oxide particles are typically colloidal, having an average particle diameter of about 0.001 to about 0.2 micrometers, less than about 0.05 micrometers, and less than about 0.03 micrometers. These size ranges facilitate dispersion of the inorganic oxide particles into the binder resin and provide ceramers with desirable surface properties and optical clarity. The average particle size of the inorganic oxide particles can be measured using transmission electron microscopy to count the number of inorganic oxide particles of a given diameter.

Inorganic oxide particles include colloidal silica, colloidal titania, colloidal alumina, colloidal zirconia, colloidal vanadia, colloidal chromia, colloidal iron oxide, colloidal antimony oxide, colloidal tin oxide, and mixtures thereof. The inorganic oxide particles can consist essentially of or consist of a single oxide such as silica, or can comprise a combination of oxides, such as silica and aluminum oxide, or a core of an oxide of one type (or a core of a material other than a metal oxide) on which is deposited an oxide of another type. Silica is a common inorganic particle.

The inorganic oxide particles are often provided in the form of a sol containing a colloidal dispersion of inorganic oxide particles in liquid media. The sol can be prepared using a variety of techniques and in a variety of forms including hydrosols (where water serves as the liquid medium), organosols (where organic liquids so serve), and mixed sols (where the liquid medium contains both water and an organic liquid), e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,407 (Goetz et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,050 (Bilkadi et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,799 (Craig et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Aqueous sols (e.g. of amorphous silica) can be employed. Sols generally contain at least 2 wt-%, at least 10 wt-%, at least 15 wt-%, at least 25 wt-%, and often at least 35 wt-% colloidal inorganic oxide particles based on the total weight of the sol. The amount of colloidal inorganic oxide particle is typically no more than 50 wt-%.

Those skilled in the art appreciate that the coating compositions can contain other optional adjuvants, such as, binders, surfactants, antistatic agents (e.g., conductive polymers), leveling agents, photosensitizers, ultraviolet (“UV”) absorbers, stabilizers, antioxidants, lubricants, pigments, dyes, plasticizers, suspending agents and the like. Other components which may be added to the surface layer include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,388, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The coating composition can be prepared by mixing the inorganic oxide particles, and other optional ingredients with the curable composition. The resulting composition usually is dried before it is applied, in order to remove substantially all of the water and/or solvent. This drying step is sometimes referred to as “stripping”. An organic solvent can be added to the resulting composition before it is applied, in order to impart improved viscosity characteristics and assist in coating the ceramer composition onto the substrate. After coating, the composition can be dried to remove any added solvent, and then can be at least partially hardened by exposing the dried composition to a suitable source of energy in order to bring about at least partial cure of the free-radically curable binder precursor.

The compositions described herein are typically, thought not always, free of hydrophilic ingredients since the inclusion of such tends to reduce anti-soiling properties as well as stain certain media. Hydrophilic components are also susceptible to degradation upon exposure to aqueous based cleaning agents.

The invention features an article comprising a substrate having a protective surface layer that comprises the cured composition. The coating provides the article with easy cleaning properties and protection against common stains, such as ink, shoe polish, food stains, and the like.

A variety of substrates can be utilized in the coated articles of the invention. Suitable substrate materials include hard substrates, such as vinyl, wood, ceramic, glass, masonry, concrete, natural stone, man-made stone, grout, metal sheets and foils, wood, paint, plastics, and films of thermoplastic resins, such as polyesters, polyamides (nylon), polyolefins, polycarbonates and polyvinylchloride, and the like. Polymeric materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), bisphenol A polycarbonate, cellulose triacetate, poly(methyl methacrylate), and biaxially oriented polypropylene which are commonly used in various optical devices. In certain embodiments, the composition may used in optical display applications.

Typically the substrate will be chosen based in part on the desired optical and mechanical properties for the intended use. Such mechanical properties typically will include flexibility, dimensional stability and impact resistance. The substrate thickness typically also will depend on the intended use. For most applications, substrate thicknesses of less than about 0.5 mm are preferred, and more preferably about 0.02 to about 0.2 mm. Self-supporting polymeric films are preferred. The polymeric material can be formed into a film using conventional filmmaking techniques such as by extrusion and optional uniaxial or biaxial orientation of the extruded film. The substrate can be treated to improve adhesion between the substrate and the coating layer, e.g., chemical treatment, corona treatment such as air or nitrogen corona, plasma, flame, or actinic radiation. If desired, an optional tie layer or primer can be applied to the substrate and/or coating layer to increase the interlayer adhesion.

Various light transmissive optical films are known including but not limited to, multilayer optical films, microstructured films such as retroreflective sheeting and brightness enhancing films, (e.g. reflective or absorbing) polarizing films, diffusive films, as well as (e.g. biaxial) retarder films and compensator films such as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0184150.

As described is U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0217806, multilayer optical films provide desirable transmission and/or reflection properties at least partially by an arrangement of microlayers of differing refractive index. The microlayers have different refractive index characteristics so that some light is reflected at interfaces between adjacent microlayers. The microlayers are sufficiently thin so that light reflected at a plurality of the interfaces undergoes constructive or destructive interference in order to give the film body the desired reflective or transmissive properties. For optical films designed to reflect light at ultraviolet, visible, or near-infrared wavelengths, each microlayer generally has an optical thickness (i.e., a physical thickness multiplied by refractive index) of less than about 1 μm. However, thicker layers can also be included, such as skin layers at the outer surfaces of the film, or protective boundary layers disposed within the film that separate packets of microlayers. Multilayer optical film bodies can also comprise one or more thick adhesive layers to bond two or more sheets of multilayer optical film in a laminate.

Further details of suitable multilayer optical films and related constructions can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,774 (Jonza et al.), and PCT Publications WO 95/17303 (Ouderkirk et al.) and WO 99/39224 (Ouderkirk et al.). Polymeric multilayer optical films and film bodies can comprise additional layers and coatings selected for their optical, mechanical, and/or chemical properties. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,699 (Gilbert et al.). The polymeric films and film bodies can also comprise inorganic layers, such as metal or metal oxide coatings or layers.

The term “optical display”, or “display panel”, can refer to any conventional optical displays, including but not limited to multi-character multi-line displays such as liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”), plasma displays, front and rear projection displays, cathode ray tubes (“CRTs”), and signage, as well as single-character or binary displays such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), signal lamps, and switches. The exposed surface of such display panels may be referred to as a “lens.” The invention is particularly useful for displays having a viewing surface that is susceptible to being touched or contacted by ink pens, markers and other marking devices, wiping cloths, paper items and the like.

The protective coatings of the invention can be employed in a variety of portable and non-portable information display articles. These articles include PDAs, cell phones (including combination PDA/cell phones), LCD televisions (direct lit and edge lit), touch sensitive screens, wrist watches, car navigation systems, global positioning systems, depth finders, calculators, electronic books, CD and DVD players, projection television screens, computer monitors, notebook computer displays, instrument gauges, instrument panel covers, signage such as graphic displays and the like. The viewing surfaces can have any conventional size and shape and can be planar or non-planar, although flat panel displays are preferred. The coating composition or coated film, can be employed on a variety of other articles as well such as for example camera lenses, eyeglass lenses, binocular lenses, mirrors, retroreflective sheeting, automobile windows, building windows, train windows, boat windows, aircraft windows, vehicle headlamps and taillights, display cases, road pavement markers (e.g. raised) and pavement marking tapes, overhead projectors, stereo cabinet doors, stereo covers, watch covers, as well as optical and magneto-optical recording disks, and the like.

In some embodiments, the coating is disposed on the display surface. In other embodiments, the protective coating is coated onto a substrate and employed as a protective film. The protective coating and substrate of the protective film preferably exhibits an initial haze of less than 2% and/or an initial transmission of at least 90%.

In some embodiments, high refractive index coating may be provided to a substrate using the curable compositions of the invention. High refractive index coatings are particularly desirable for many optical applications. Coatings having a refractive index of at least 1.6, comprising the curable composition of the invention, and surface modified zirconia nanoparticles as the polyethylenically unsaturated component, are provided.

Zirconia nanoparticles will typically exhibit a particle size from 5-150 nm, or 5 to 75 nm, or 5 to 25 nm, or 5-15 nm. All or part of the polyethylenically unsaturated component may be surface modified zirconia nanoparticles. Zirconias for use in compositions of the invention are commercially available from Nalco Chemical Co. (Naperville, Ill.) under the product designation NALCO OOSSOO8, Buhler (Uzweil, Switzerland) under the product designation WO or WOS, or may be prepared as described in Applicant's copending application U.S. Ser. No. 11/027,426, filed Dec. 30, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.

The substrate can be treated to improve adhesion between the substrate and the hardcoat layer, e.g., by incorporating reactive groups into the substrate surface though chemical treatment, etc. If desired, an optional tie layer or primer can be applied to the substrate and/or hardcoat layer to increase the interlayer adhesion. Alternatively, the composition may further comprise a mono (meth)acryloyl compound having a functional group, wherein the functional group is chosen to improve adhesion to a specific substrate. For example, silyl functional groups, such as trialkoxysilane groups, may improve adhesion to glass substrates.

The coating composition can be applied to the substrate using a variety of conventional coating methods. Suitable coating methods include, for example, spin coating, knife coating, die coating, wire coating, flood coating, padding, spraying, roll coating, dipping, brushing, foam application, and the like. The coating is dried, typically using a forced air oven. The dried coating is at least partially and typically completely cured using an energy source.

Preferred energy sources include ultraviolet light curing devices that provide a UV “C” dosage of about 5 to 60 millijoules per square centimeter (mJ/cm²). Preferably curing takes place in an environment containing low amounts of oxygen, e.g., less than about 100 parts per million. Nitrogen gas is a preferred environment.

Preferably the coating composition is applied at a sufficient amount to provide a cured layer having a thickness of at least about 10 nanometers, and preferably at least about 25 nanometers. Typically, the cured layer has a thickness of less than about 50 mils, preferably less than about 10 mils, and more preferably less than about 5 mils.

The coated article may further comprise a layer of pressures sensitive adhesive. Thus, the present invention provides an adhesive article comprising a substrate bearing a coating of the curable composition on one major surface, and an adhesive layer on the other major surface. Suitable adhesive compositions include (e.g. hydrogenated) block copolymers such as those commercially available from Kraton Polymers of Westhollow, Tex. under the trade designation “Kraton G-1657”, as well as other (e.g. similar) thermoplastic rubbers. Other exemplary adhesives include acrylic-based, urethane-based, silicone-based, and epoxy-based adhesives. Preferred adhesives are of sufficient optical quality and light stability such that the adhesive does not yellow with time or upon weather exposure so as to degrade the viewing quality of the coated articles, such as optical displays. The adhesive can be applied using a variety of known coating techniques such as transfer coating, knife coating, spin coating, die coating and the like. Exemplary adhesives are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0012936. Several of such adhesives are commercially available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. under the trade designations 8141, 8142, and 8161.

Further features and advantages of this invention are further illustrated by the following examples, which are in no way intended to be limiting thereof. The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described herein, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention can be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the instant specification.

Various modifications and alterations to this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that this invention is not intended to be unduly limited by the illustrative embodiments set forth herein and that such embodiments are presented by way of example only with the scope of the invention intended to be limited only by the claims which follow.

EXAMPLES

Method for Determining Marker Repellency:

For this test one of the Sharpie Permanent Marker, Vis-à-vis Permanent Overhead Project Pen or King Size Permanent Marker (all commercially available from Sanford, USA) were used as the marker. First, the tip of the selected marker was cut with a razor blade to provide a wide flat marking tip. Then, using the marker and an edge of a straight ruler as a guide, a straight line was drawn over the sample coatings applied over a PET substrate at an approximate speed of 15 cm per second. The appearance of the straight line drawn on the coatings was viewed and a number was assigned to reflect the degree of repellency of the sample coating towards markers. An assigned number of 1 indicates excellent repellency while an assigned number of 5 indicates poor repellency. Depending on the type of marker used, the results are reported as Sharpie test, Vis-à-vis test or King marker test.

Method for Determining Solvent Resistance:

For this test, a drop (about 1.25 cm in diameter) of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or other organic solvent was placed on a sample coating applied over a PET substrate, and was allowed to dry at room temperature. Afterwards, the sample coating was visually observed for appearance and rated either as Haze (H), indicating poor solvent repellency or Clear (C), indicating good solvent repellency. Furthermore, using the above “method for marker test”, the sharpie test was repeated on the spot where a drop of MEK or organic solvent repellency test was conducted, and a marker repellency number ranging from 1 to 5 was assigned.

Stain Resistance Test:

This test was similar to the solvent repellency test except that the sample coatings were applied over a polished granite or over a porous stone substrate and instead of MEK or an organic solvent a variety of stains selected from coffee, cool aid, red wine, grape juice, etc. were placed on the sample coatings. After 24 hours, the dried stains were removed by a soft wet or dry paper towel, depending on the stain. The residual stain marks were visually rated on a scale from 0 (no visible mark left) to 5 (severe mark left or dark stain which has spread).

Method for Measuring Contact Angle:

Contact angle measurements were made on the sample coatings using as-received reagent-grade hexadecane (obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) and de-ionized water filtered through a filtration system (obtained from Millipore Corporation, Billerica, Mass.), on a video contact angle analyzer (commercially available as product number VCA-2500XE from AST Products, Billerica, Mass.). Reported values are the averages of five measurements.

Steel Wool Test:

Steel wool test was run to determine the abrasion resistance of cured sample coatings. The abrasion resistance of the cured sample coatings was tested cross-web to the coating direction by use of a mechanical device capable of oscillating steel wool fastened to a stylus (by means of a rubber gasket) across the film's surface. The stylus oscillated over a 10 cm wide sweep width at a rate of 3.5 wipes/second wherein a “wipe” is defined as a single travel of 10 cm. The stylus had a flat, cylindrical geometry with a diameter of 1.25 inch (3.2 cm). The device was equipped with a platform on which weights were placed to increase the force exerted by the stylus normal to the film's surface. The steel wool was obtained from Rhodes-American, a division of Homax Products, Bellingham, Wash. under the trade designation “#0000-Super-Fine” and was used as received. A single sample was tested for each example, with 500 grams of applied load to the stylus and 300 wipes employed during testing.

Materials Used:

Q2-7785: A C₄F₉-containing fluorosilicone terminated with divinyl group CH₂═CHSiMe₂—[OSiMe₂]y—[OSi(Me)(C₂H₄C₄F₉)]x—OSiMe₂CH═CH₂ with hydrosilylation catalyst (80% solution in Heptane), obtained from Dow Corning, Midland, Mich.

MeFBSEA: C₄F₉SO₂NMeCH₂CH₂OC(O)CH═CH₂. Available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.

PFBEA: n—C₄F₉CH₂CH₂OC(O)CH═CH₂, was obtained from Daikin, Japan.

TMPTA: Trimethylolpropane triacrylate, commercially available under the trade designation “SR351”, obtained from Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa.

SR444C: Pentaerythritol triacrylate, commercially available from Sartomer Company, Exton Pa.

SR399: Dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, commercially available from Sartomer Company, Exton Pa.

906 HC: A silica based ceramer hardcoat with photoinitiators used in the examples was made as described in column 10, line 25-39 and Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,050 to Bilkadi, et al.

MIBK: Methyl isobutyl ketone, obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

DMF: Dimethylformamide, obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

HCCl₃: Trichloromethane, obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

401: CF₃CF₂CF₂CF₂OCH₃, available from 3M, St. Paul, Minn.

IPA: Isopropyl Alcohol, obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

MEK: Methyl ethyl ketone, obtained from EM Science, Gibbstown, N.J.

EtOAc: Ethyl Acetate, obtained from Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

Acetone and Toluene were obtained from EMD Chemicals Inc., Gibbstown, N.J.

D-1173: 2-Hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone, a UV photoinitiator, available from Ciba Specialty Products, of Tarrytown, N.Y.

(HFPO)aCO₂CH₃: F(CF(CF₃)CF₂O)aCF(CF₃)CO₂CH₃ with an average molecular weight of 1,200 g/mol, was prepared according to the method reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,808 (Moore et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, with purification by fractional distillation. (HFPO)aC(O)—NH—CH₂CH₂—OH (MW˜1229): (HFPO)a-C(O)OCH₃ (Mw=1200 g/mole, 50.0 g) was placed in 200 ml round bottom flask. The flask was purged with nitrogen and placed in a water bath to maintain a temperature of 50° C. or less. To this flask was added 2.55 g (0.042 mol) of 2-aminoethanol (obtained from Aldrich). The reaction mixture was stirred for about 1 hr, after which time an infrared spectrum of the reaction mixture showed complete loss of the methyl ester band at 1790 cm⁻¹ and the presence of the strong amide carbonyl stretch at 1710 cm⁻¹. Methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE, 200 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the organic phase was extracted twice with water/HCl (˜5%) to remove unreacted amine and methanol. The MTBE layer was dried with MgSO₄. The MTBE was removed under reduced pressure to yield a clear, viscous liquid. ¹H Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) confirmed the formation of the above-identified compound. HFPO: Adduct of 1 part Des N100, 0.15 parts (HFPO)xC(O)NHCH₂CH₂OH and 0.85 parts SR-444C. Prepared by mixing, 9.55 g (50 meq.) Des N100, 9.22 g ((MW˜1229, 7.5 meq.) (HFPO)_(x)C(O)NHCH₂CH₂OH, (21.0 g, 42.5 meq.) SR444C, 80 g ethyl acetate and 5 drops of dibutyltin dilaurate were mixed under nitrogen in a 240 ml bottle with a magnetic stir bar. A cloudy solution was obtained. The bottle was sealed, and the reaction was carried out at 70° C. for 5 hours. A clear homogeneous 33% solids solution was obtained. FTIR analysis showed no unreacted —NCO signal. N100: DES N100 or Desmodumm N100, Hexamethylene diisocyanate biuret, was obtained from Bayer Polymers LLC, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Examples 1-39 and Comparative Examples A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H

Examples 1-39 were made by preparing and coating compositions according to the invention on a variety of substrates (unless indicated otherwise PET substrates), followed by UV-curing of the coatings and then measuring the properties of the resulting coatings. The compositions of the Examples 1-39 were prepared by mixing a solution containing a polyethylenically unsaturated compound having two or more ethylenically unsaturated, free-radically polymerizable groups (used either as received or diluted to 20% with a solvent) with an additive solution containing a fluorochemical silicone such as vinyl silicone. The solution containing the polyethylenically unsaturated compound having two or more ethylenically unsaturated, free-radically polymerizable groups is referred to hereinafter as hardcoat agent solution. The additive solution used in Examples 1-39 was Q2-7785 either used as received or diluted to 20% with a solvent. When either the hardcoat agent solution or the additive solution contained more than one solvent expressed as (Solvent 1:Solvent 2) the ratio of solvents was 4:1 by weight. If the Solvent 1 and Solvent 2 were IPA and MEK, then the ratio of IPA to MEK was 1:1 by weight. Unless otherwise noted, the hardcoat agent solution contained about 1% of a photoinitiator (unless indicated otherwise, D-1173). Once a uniform mixture of the hardcoat agent solution and the additive solution was obtained, the resulting compositions were coated on a substrate by spreading the coating composition on the substrate by means of a rotating rod. The “gauge” of the rod combined with the properties of the coating composition determined the coating thickness. A #6 rod was used for coating if the coating composition was prepared using as received (i.e., without further dilution) hardcoat agents TMPTA, SR-444C, and vinyl silicon additive Q2-7785. In all other cases, a #10 rod was used for coating the coating compositions over the substrates. The substrate and the coating were then dried in an oven at about 110° C., for about 5 minutes and then UV-cured using a hydrogen bulb light source under nitrogen gas atmosphere at a travel speed of about 600 cm per minute. For Comparative Examples A, B, and F, similar coatings were prepared as for Examples 1-39, except that the additive solution was a solution of MeFBSEA. For Comparative Examples C, D, and E, similar coatings were prepared as for Examples 1-39, except that the coating compositions did not contain any additive solution. For Comparative Examples G and H, similar coatings were prepared as for Examples 1-39, except that the additive solution was a solution of PFBEA. Table I below summarizes the compositions of Examples 1-39 and the Comparative Examples A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H.

TABLE I Coating Compositions For Examples 1-39 and Comparative Examples A-F. Coating Composition: Wt % Wt % Hardcoat Agent Additive Hardcoat Agent Additive (Wt % in Solution/ (Wt % in Solution/ Example: Solution: Solution: Solvent Added): Solvent Added): 1 97.5 2.5 TMPTA (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 2 97.5 2.5 TMPTA (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 3 99.4 0.6 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 4 99.4 0.6 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 5 99.4 0.6 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/MEK:Hexane) 6 98.6 1.4 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/MEK:Hexane) 7 97.2 2.8 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/MEK:Hexane) 8 93.75 6.25 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/MEK:Hexane) 9 99.4 0.6 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 10 97.2 2.8 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 11 95.5 5 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 12 98 2 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 13 95 5 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 14 95 5 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane:401) 15 96 4 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane:MIBK) 16 98 2 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane:MIBK) 17 98 2 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane:401) 18 99.3 .7 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane:401) 19 98 2 SR-444C (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane:HCCl3) 20 96 4 SR-444C (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane:HCCl3) 21 99 1 SR-444C (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 22 98 2 SR-444C (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 23 99.5 .5 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 24 98 2 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 25 96 4 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 26 97 3 906HC (20/IPA-MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 27 98 2 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 28 96 4 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Heptane) 29 98 2 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane:401) 30 99 1 TMPTA (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 31 98 2 TMPTA (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 32 95 5 TMPTA (100/None) Q2-7785 (100/None) 35 98 2 SR-399 (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/MEK:Hexane) 36 97 3 906 HC (20/IPA:MEK) Q2-7785 (20/IPA:MEK) 37 98 2 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 38 99 1 906 HC (20/IPA:MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) 39 98 2 TMPTA (20/MEK) Q2-7785 (20/Hexane) Comparative A 95 5 906HC (20/MEK) MeFBSEA (20/MEK) Comparative B 90 10 906HC (20/MEK) MeFBSEA (20/MEK) Comparative C 100 0 SR-399 (20/MEK) — Comparative D 100 0 906HC (20/IPA:MEK) — Comparative E 100 0 TMPTA (20/MEK) — Comparative F 95 5 TMPTA (20/MEK) MeFBSEA (20/<EK) Comparative G 95 5 906HC (20/MEK) PFBEA (20/MEK) Comparative H 90 10 906HC (20/MEK) PFBEA (20/MEK)

Marker repellency of coatings obtained from the coating compositions according to the invention and Comparative Examples A-H was determined using the method for determining marker repellency as described above. Table II below summarizes the results of the marker repellency test for coating compositions of this invention on a variety of substrates in comparison to known coating compositions of Comparative Examples A-H.

TABLE II Marker Repellency Test Data for Coatings: Sharpie Vis-à-Vis King Size Example: Substrate: Test: Test: Test: 1 Vinyl 1 1 1 2 Hardwood 1 1 1 3 Vinyl 1 1 1 4 Hardwood 1 1 1 5 PET 1 1 1 5 Stainless Steel 1 1 1 6 PET 1 1 1 6 Stainless Steel 1 1 1 7 PET 1 1 1 7 Stainless Steel 1 1 1 8 PET 1 1 1 8 Stainless Steel 1 1 1 9 PET 1 1 1 9 Polished Marble 1 1 1 10 PET 1 1 1 10 Polished Marble 1 1 1 11 PET 1 1 1 11 Polished Marble 1 1 1 12 PET 1 1 1 13 PET 1 1 1 14 PET 1 1 1 15 PET 1 1 1 16 PET 1 1 1 17 PET 1 1 1 18 PET 1 1 1 19 PET 1 1 1 20 PET 1 1 1 21 PET 1 1 1 22 PET 1 1 1 23 PET 1 1 1 24 PET 1 1 1 25 PET 1 1 1 26 PET 1 1 1 27 PET 1 1 1 28 PET 1 1 1 29 PET 1 1 1 30 PET 1 1 1 31 PET 1 1 1 32 PET 1 1 1 Comparative A PET 5 5 5 Comparative A Polished Marble 5 5 5 Comparative B PET 5 5 5 Comparative B Polished Marble 3 3 3 Comparative C PET 5 5 5 Comparative D PET 5 5 5 Comparative E PET 5 5 5 Comparative F PET 5 5 5 Comparative G PET 5 5 5 Comparative H PET 5 5 5

Contact angle data for coatings obtained from the coating compositions according to the invention was determined using the method for determining contact angle as described above. Table III below summarizes the contact angle data for the hard coatings formed as described above from compositions according to the invention.

TABLE III H₂O Contact Angle for Coatings: H₂O Contact Angle (in Degrees) Example: Advance Recede Static 12 115 90 109 13 120 93 116 14 109 88 106 15 113 104 110 16 117 101 115 17 113 97 110 18 105 92 101 19 117 80 98 20 112 83 112 24 114 91 110 25 115 98 114 26 119 104 113 27 109 80 107 28 113 89 107 29 114 98 110 Comparative A 73 53 73 Comparative B 77 57 74 Comparative G 71 48 70 Comparative H 70 52 70

Solvent repellency of coatings obtained from the coating compositions according to the invention was determined using the method for determining solvent repellency as described above. Table IV below summarizes the results of the solvent repellency test for coating compositions of this invention on PET substrates.

TABLE V Solvent Repellency Test Data for Coatings: Solvent Example: IPA Toluene MIBK Acetone EtOAc DMF 12 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 13 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 19 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 20 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 24 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 25 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 27 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 28 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1 C/1

Several coatings obtained from the coating compositions according to the invention were subjected to a steel wool test as described above to determine their durability. The durability of the coatings were determined in terms of their visual appearance, marker repellency and H₂O contact angle (all measured as described above) after the steel wool test. Table VI below summarizes visual coating appearance and the marker repellency of several coatings before and after steel wool testing. Table VII below summarizes the H₂O contact angle data for several sample coatings before and after steel wool testing.

TABLE VI Visual Appearance and Marker Repellency Test Data for Coatings after Steel Wool Testing: Sharpie Test Coating Appearance After Before Steel After Steel Examples: Steel Wool Test Wool Test Wool Test 35 No Scratch 1 1 36 No Scratch 1 1 37 No Scratch 1 1 38 No Scratch 1 1 39 No Scratch 1 1

TABLE VII H₂O Contact Angle Data for Coatings before and after Steel Wool Testing: H₂O Contact Angle (in Degrees) Advance Recede Static Example: (Before/After) Before/After) Before/After) 35 110/104  90/70 110/100 36 119/109 104/80 113/107 

1. A free-radically curable composition comprising: a) a fluoroalkyl silicone having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, b) greater than 80 parts by weight to 99.5 parts by weight of polyethylenically unsaturated component, based on 100 parts by weight of the fluoroalkyl silicone and the polyethylenically unsaturated component, the polyethylenically unsaturated component having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups comprising: (i) (meth)acrylated polyol; (ii) surface functionalized inorganic nanoparticles, having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups; or (iii) a combination thereof, and c) a free radical initiator.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluoroalkyl silicone is of the formula:

R¹ is a monovalent hydrocarbylorganic group; R² is R¹ or an ethylenically unsaturated group Z; R_(f) is a fluoroalkyl group; a is 0 to 2000 b is 1 to 2000; a +b is at least 10, wherein at least two of said R² groups are an ethylenically unsaturated group Z.
 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein R_(f) is of the formula: C_(n)F_(2n+1)(C_(m)H_(2m)O)_(d)C_(p)H_(2p)—, C_(n)F_(2n+1)CHFCF₂(C_(m)H_(2m)O)_(d)C_(p)H_(2p)— or C_(n)F_(2n+1)OCHFCF₂(C_(m)H_(2m)O)_(d)C_(p)H_(2p)— wherein n is an integer of 1 to 12, m is an integer of 1 to 12, d is 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 2 to
 12. 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein n is 3 to
 6. 5. The composition of claim 2 wherein Z is selected from alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, vinyloxyalkylene, allyloxyalkylene, and (meth)acryloyl groups.
 6. The composition of claim 2 wherein the fluoroalkyl silicone is of the formula:

R¹ is an monovalent hydrocarbyl organic group; Z is an ethylenically unsaturated group; R_(f) is a fluoroalkyl group; a is 0 to 2000 b is 1 to 2000; and a +b is at least
 10. 7. The composition of claim 2 wherein the fluoroalkyl silicone is of the formula:

wherein Z is an ethylenically unsaturated group, R¹ is a monovalent saturated organic group; R_(f) is a fluoroalkyl group; a is 0 to 2000 b is 1 to 2000; c is 2 to 2000; and a +b +c is at least
 10. 8. The composition of claim 1 wherein said a polyethylenically unsaturated component is an organic compound of the formula R⁴(Z')_(p), wherein R⁴ is an organic moiety of valency p, p is at least 2, and Z' is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, reactive with said ethylenically unsaturated group of said fluoroalkyl silicone.
 9. The composition of claim 8 wherein R⁴ is a non-urethane aliphatic moiety of valency p.
 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyethylenically unsaturated component comprises said (meth)acrylated polyol.
 11. The composition of claim 1 comprising at least 90 parts by weight of the Polyethylenically unsaturated component, based on 100 parts by weight of fluoroalkyl silicone and polyethylenically unsaturated component.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the free radical initiator is a UV initiator.
 13. The composition of claim 1 wherein said a polyethylenically unsaturated component said comprises surface functionalized inorganic nanoparticles, having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups.
 14. The composition of claim 13, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles comprise a plurality of(meth)acryloyl surface flunctional groups.
 15. The composition of claim 13, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles are selected from the group of silica, zinc oxide, titania, alumina, zirconia, vanadia, chromia, iron oxide, antimony oxide, tin oxide, other colloidal metal oxides, and mixtures thereof.
 16. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a mono (meth)acryloyl compound having a functional group.
 17. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyethylenically unsaturated component comprises surface modified zirconia nanoparticles.
 18. A method of providing a coating onto a substrate comprising the steps of: a. coating a substrate with the composition of claim 1 and curing the coating with a free radical initiator.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the coating is cured by UV.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the substrate is selected from vinyl, wood, glass, stone, metals, ceramics, masonry, paint, plastics and thermoplastic resins.
 21. A coated substrate comprising the cured composition of claim
 1. 22. The coated substrate of claim 21, wherein the substrate is selected from vinyl, wood, glass, stone, metals, ceramics, masonry, paint, plastics and thermoplastic resins.
 23. The coated substrate of claim 21 wherein the coating has an index of refraction of at least 1.6. 